What to do? Passengers on train talking about not having valid tickets

[Esker-pades]

I'm overhearing passengers on my train (they're sitting right next to me) discussing about how they either don't have tickets, or don't have valid tickets and their likelihood of being caught.

The train is quite long and quite crowded, so I don't want to get up and look for a member of staff in case my seat is grabbed. Is there a way I can alert on-board staff?

 

[221129]

I wouldn't bother personally.

 

[Ken H]

I'm overhearing passengers on my train (they're sitting right next to me) discussing about how they either don't have tickets, or don't have valid tickets and their likelihood of being caught.

The train is quite long and quite crowded, so I don't want to get up and look for a member of staff in case my seat is grabbed. Is there a way I can alert on-board staff?

depends if you want to keep your teeth.

 

[Mag_seven]

I'm overhearing passengers on my train (they're sitting right next to me) discussing about how they either don't have tickets, or don't have valid tickets and their likelihood of being caught.

The train is quite long and quite crowded, so I don't want to get up and look for a member of staff in case my seat is grabbed. Is there a way I can alert on-board staff?

Text the BTP on 61016 "See it, say it, sorted"?

 

[Esker-pades]

depends if you want to keep your teeth.

What does that mean?

 

[causton]

What does that mean?

As someone who works in revenue protection, you need to pick your battles. I would not worry about it if it is not your job at this point in time. If they find out you are personally 'grassing them up' then you may be at risk of verbal or physical assault!

 

[3141]

How concerned about this are you? Not enough to risk losing your seat, you've told us. You're unlikely to find a member of staff unless you go looking. You could try a message to the TOC's twitter page, saying whereabouts in the train the miscreants are. The staff on the twitter page might contact the guard, and the guard might investigate. Or they might not.

 

[DanDaDriver]

Ok, it’ll be over too soon if you use the nunchucks, so you’re going to need to find six throwing stars and a blindfold then get back to us for further instructions.

Also, have you seen Charles Bronson in “Deathwish”?

 

[Esker-pades]

One of them touched my arm to get my attention. I pick this fight.

 

[js1000]

I'm overhearing passengers on my train (they're sitting right next to me) discussing about how they either don't have tickets, or don't have valid tickets and their likelihood of being caught.

The train is quite long and quite crowded, so I don't want to get up and look for a member of staff in case my seat is grabbed. Is there a way I can alert on-board staff?

Meh... I'm amazed someone would even bother. What the hell have I got to gain from grassing up a passenger for not having a ticket? Nothing except hassle.

 

[Esker-pades]

Meh... I'm amazed someone would even bother. What the hell have I got to gain from grassing up a passenger for not having a ticket? Nothing except hassle.

It's an entirely reasonable position to have.

Most of the time I wouldn't bother, but they keep discussing it and I'm finding their existence deeply tedious. Especially because this is first class, and they've actively chosen to not be in standard. There are others standing in first class, who I am assuming actually have tickets.

 

[Islineclear3_1]

Keep out of it. And does your train have a guard? And by the time you've alerted him (or somebody), the passengers may have got off the train

I know you feel you want to do the right thing but do consider your actions carefully. What goes around comes around etc...

 

[Esker-pades]

Keep out of it. And does your train have a guard? And by the time you've alerted him (or somebody), the passengers may have got off the train

I know you feel you want to do the right thing but do consider your actions carefully. What goes around comes around etc...

I've tipped off the TOC on Twitter. What they want to do with it is their business.

I'm not entirely sure what you mean by that last bit. As a rule I don't travel without valid tickets. I simply would not be able to deal with the stress of getting a penalty fare.

 

[Darandio]

One of them touched my arm to get my attention. I pick this fight.

What do you mean? You are making no sense.

 

[Esker-pades]

What do you mean? You are making no sense.

They wanted to ask me questions about the train so they started prodding at my arm to get my attention.

The second sentence was in reference to post #6.

 

[Islineclear3_1]

I know you feel you want to do the right thing but do consider your actions carefully. What goes around comes around etc...

What I mean by the last bit is that if you cause harm or trouble to somebody else, it may come back to bite you some day (bad karma for you).

Do good unto others and good will come to you

 

[Busaholic]

They wanted to ask me questions about the train so they started prodding at my arm to get my attention.

The second sentence was in reference to post #6.

Do you not think you've possibly been set up?

 

[Esker-pades]

Do you not think you've possibly been set up?

What do you mean?

 

[EastCoastway]

If you feel strongly about it, write an email to the TOC and they might carry out an exercise with their RPI on that service in the future...

 

[matt_world2004]

I'm overhearing passengers on my train (they're sitting right next to me) discussing about how they either don't have tickets, or don't have valid tickets and their likelihood of being caught.

The train is quite long and quite crowded, so I don't want to get up and look for a member of staff in case my seat is grabbed. Is there a way I can alert on-board staff?

I wouldn't get involved revenue inspectors are trained to deal with Conflict, can get off the train frequently and can contact backup. You can't.

 

[47271]

Completely ignore it. I overhear all sorts of outrageous things when I'm travelling but so long as I'm not directly disadvantaged by the behaviour, or another passenger is becoming the victim of criminal activity, I wouldn't dream of doing anything about it.

You're on the train to get from A to B, not to police it.

 

[muz379]

I've tipped off the TOC on Twitter. What they want to do with it is their business.

Probably not a lot , depending on toc it would take the social media team to then inform the control team to then look for the contact details of the guard and contact the guard(if there is one) when they more often than not have 101 far more important things to be dealing with .

 

[nottsnurse]

Snitches get stitches.

 

[Crossover]

I was on a train the other day, day lads got on then exclaimed ‘oh s*** he’s here’ on seeing the train manager. Luckily for them, the guard was one of the most laid back I’ve come across for some time and just walked past them. Me and my friend had to buy a ticket earlier in the journey and we had to approach him rather than tickets being actively checked!

 

[mmh]

I'm very suspicious of this. Not of them, but you, I'm afraid.

I'm overhearing passengers on my train (they're sitting right next to me) discussing about how they either don't have tickets, or don't have valid tickets and their likelihood of being caught.

Too much detail, which you can't make your mind up about. "Or don't have valid tickets" - I'm afraid I think you're making this up.

The train is quite long and quite crowded, so I don't want to get up and look for a member of staff in case my seat is grabbed. Is there a way I can alert on-board staff?

Too little detail, you're a trainspotter / train enthusiast, you'll know exactly the sort of train you're on and how "long" it is.

 

[Segedunum]

Unless they're actively causing a nuisance, or directly interfering with your comfort and safety, don't bother.

I think the only time I've reported anyone was someone vaping in the First Class bit of a 185 and after ten minutes or so of breathing it in, my throat was starting to burn and I (discretely) informed the guard. Guard came along, told the person to pack it in, and on we went.

 

[AlterEgo]

I wouldn't bother.

 

[Mag_seven]

I have reported suspected fare dodgers to the guard on more than one occasion because I hate to see the railway being ripped off.

 

[whhistle]

I'm quite surprised at some of the responses here.

I'd be interested to know what level of "badass" would make you report something.
Being on a trian without tickets is clearly a "no action".

What about having no TV Licence (I see people all over the net get really piped up about this!) - would you report them to the BBC if you knew their name/address?

What about someone discussing recruitment but being very open with names and reasons someone wasn't recruited?

What about someone discussing a robbery plan of a local newsagents?
Or if it was a robbery of a bank?

What about someone planning a hit on someone?
Or if it was a plan to burn someones house down?

Would you report anything if you overheard some sort of fraud plan for a large company?

What if it was someone telling Royal Mail they didn't receive a letter, but you could see it in front of them?

What is the level you would go to before reporting something?

Although I agree, it's not the OPs job and as the train was busy, it wasn't worth them finding the Train Manager. Makes me think why I bother to buy tickets. If someone else can travel free, why can't I?

 

[Esker-pades]

I'm very suspicious of this. Not of them, but you, I'm afraid.



Too much detail, which you can't make your mind up about. "Or don't have valid tickets" - I'm afraid I think you're making this up.



Too little detail, you're a trainspotter / train enthusiast, you'll know exactly the sort of train you're on and how "long" it is.

Firstly, I wasn't making this up.
When I travel, especially on InterCity services, I wear large, noise reducing headphones. So, I've heard the phrase "Yeah, but it's so crowded the guard won't come down so we don't need to worry" (roughly) with headphones on. I then removed my headphones. One person was on the phone to their mum and made the same comment. There is absolutely no reason to say that unless they have no or an invalid ticket.
I didn't go into details of the train I was on, because I did not want to identify the train I was on, certainly not at the time. I can do into some detail now (HST, full East Coast formation minus coach D, first class had unrefurbished seats in coach L).


Now, even though I wasn't making it up, would it matter if I was? This thread has and will turn into a discussion about if non-railway staff would tip staff off about fare evasion. That is quite an interesting and useful railway discussion.